Because I love you, I'm here to talk about my personal opinion as a wedding photographer and hot dogs.

I'm not talking about the edible kind, the ones that sizzle over grills all summer long, that you slather with mustard, onions, ketchup, relish...mmmm...and I just lost my train of thought.

Ok, I'm back! The hot dogs I'm talking about are well-intending bridal party members (sometimes even the bride!) who really want to do their best, to look their best on your wedding day. As soon as the invitations are out, they make a mental list of what needs done before they (or you!) waltz down that aisle in front of your invited family and guests. An awesome hair style needs found, fingernails and toenails need prep, the perfect makeup done, and at some point, they look in the mirror and decide that they really, REALLY need to get to a salon and get a TAN to look their best.

Please, don't.

Don't get me wrong, no judgement here. I spent WAY too many hours in my 20s and 30s under bulbs to add a "healthy glow" to myself and look like I just stepped off a beach in Rio. I knew I looked AMAZING and felt really bad for those girls who spent all summer getting rid of their pasty, pale winter glaze, poor babies.

What no one told me, not even one of those girls that sold me the $80 bottle of special diamond dust, copper bronzing, +78 tingle lotion, was that I didn't even RESEMBLE a human color any longer, I looked like a HOT DOG.Truth be told, I didn't even care. I was T A N.

Eventually I had a conscience awakening and decided to step away from the bulbs and just spray tan. It wouldn't damage my skin, it was faster, and could live with that. Then, I learned that spray tans, tanning bronzers and lotions, all brands and every type, no matter how good I had applied them, fade, spot, run, wear and smear. And guess what, I still looked like a hot dog.

Now I'm going to be completely transparent here - the reason I'm warning you is because I honestly want to cry when I see that my bride, maid of honor, mother of the bride, even bridesmaid, is that unnatural color of orange. It stands out in a bad way. Your eye is drawn to it immediately.

Of course I can slightly adjust it afterward, BUT I can't photoshop what your guests see that day, or what your photos will reflect in 20, 30, 50 years.

So as kindly and as carefully as I can, I'm suggesting that if you are in a wedding coming up and you want a sun kissed glow, a bit of color on your cheeks, put a little sunscreen on and spend some time outdoors. Take a walk, plant some flowers, ride in a boat, get it naturally and it will look much better. OR, find a fantastic make up artist to help you on the day of.